Huddersfield Town hero Kasey Palmer couldn’t get the smile off his face and said of his match-winning goal: “That was my best moment in football!”
A winner in Europe with Chelsea and England Under 21s, the 19-year-old made a decisive impact on his debut as a substitute in the 2-1 win over Brentford.
His goal, barely 90 seconds after he had gone on, rewarded a stadium record opening-day crowd of 18,479 and catapulted David Wagner’s side into the embryo play-off placings.
Watch Town's celebrations:
“I can’t even describe how that felt to score my first goal with my first touch in front of a great crowd, so it was a dream come true,” said Palmer, who is on a season-long loan.
““Literally, the boss said ‘win us the game, be the decisive player in the game.’ I’m looking at him thinking ‘on my debut!’ So to score as soon as I touched the ball was unbelievable.
“I think it’s probably the best moment in my football career so far, to score on my debut is just a dream.
“My mum, girlfriend, dad, everybody, all my family was here in the box, so it was a great moment.”
Palmer added to Elias Kachunga’s opener and wiped out the equaliser Nico Yennaris had scored for Brentford just two minutes earlier. He hopes it will be the first of many.
“Last season I scored 18 goals and this season I’m hoping to get the same sort of tally, without pushing too much pressure on myself,” he said.
“To start with a goal is a great feeling and can only give me confidence.
“It’s a vital season for me. It’s my first season out on loan and I think it’s time to prove myself in men’s football.
“I’ve done well in youth football but from my first game already it’s nothing like youth football.
“The fans were unbelievable and it’s a completely different atmosphere.”
Why Town?
“I think the style of play, the staff at the club. For me it was the best option,” he explained.
“They didn’t finish high up the table last season but I think this season we have a good group of players and a good staff and, from pre-season, I think the only way to be is positive.
“The training ground has a good atmosphere and it’s a great time for the club.”
And what does Palmer promise the fans?
“All I can say is that we might not win every week but we will give 100% cent every week. The work ethic will be there,” he answered.
“Some days it will work, some days it won’t. Football is football. But I will say if you come to watch Huddersfield Town we will try our best and give 100% week-in, week-out.”
